Can India hold on to their number one ranking?(Preview)

It hasn’t been the India we have come to know in the last five years or so. Under MS Dhoni’s captaincy India have played some fantastic test cricket-marked with top quality skills, braving tough moments, desire and hunger to be the best and not getting overawed by the setup of the opposition-rose to the top of the ladder. However, things are falling apart and Dhoni’s men are on the verge of being dethroned by England.

Two tests into the four match test series, Indian team, in general, has looked a shadow of their past performances and have been bullied by the hosts in both game. The aura of this India side has been punctured for they have hardly been a match to England’s ruthlessness and clinical approach in the series so far. If Lord’s defeat was attributed to lack of preparation from the tourists, a morale denting defeat of 319 runs at Trent Bridge turned out to be a meek surrender. It hasn’t stopped there. India have had their fair share of injuries too: Zaheer Khan (after so much of confusion regarding his hamstring has been ruled out of the game for four months), Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh won’t be taking any further part in the tour.

The frustrating part of India’s disastrous showing has been the fact that players seem to be lacking in desire to win. Indians, by the look of their body language, have appeared to be jaded and fatigued both mentally and physically. Like their form, passion seems to be on a wane and the results are embodiment of their spineless effort. To be fair England have been too much for them to handle.

For India to hold on to the crown, at least, till another test, its players need to regroup quickly to get their team off the mark on the tour. Ahead of the crucial Edgbaston test, the side has been bolstered with some key reinforcements. India might be without services of ace spearhead Zaheer Khan but the return of dashing opener Virendar Sehwag after missing first two tests somewhat neutralizes the loss. All of India and team management are banking on Sehwag’s ability to rattle bowlers upfront for the turnaround. Under the circumstances, it is asking too much of the man who, surely, will be put to stern test by an in-form and hostile battery of English fast bowlers.  Gambhir too will be back and that should give India solidity and muscle at the top.

Save for Rahul Dravid who has scored gritty centuries in each test, other batsmen have faltered big time. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni himself haven’t been able to emulate Dravid’s resoluteness and determination. Simply pace, swing, seam and short stuff from English bowlers couldn’t be handled properly by so called best batting lineup in the world. With number one ranking and series in line, Indian fans would be hoping for their classy players to hit form at this desperate situation.

Minus Zaheer, fast bowling unit hasn’t fared badly. Led by Praveen Kumar who has got ball to dart around in both directions, S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma have kept pegging away. However, they couldn’t finish off the things when the home side was on the mat at 124 for 8 before Stuart Broad ran with the show to give some respectability to the total.

England needn’t to bother about many things though. Andrew Strauss led side has looked a well oiled side with players demonstrating top quality skill levels, exhibiting passion and energy to bring home the glory. Thanks to their all-round cricket, they have been all over Indians. Except for their openers, all other batsmen including lower order have been amongst the runs. And bowlers have been on the song with James Anderson, Broad and Tim Bresnan running through strong Indian batting lineup. The refreshing aspect of England’s clinical effort has been their ability to turn things their way when chips are down.

In place of injured Johnathan Trott, Ravi Bopara is set take his place but it would be Ian Bell batting at Trott’s customary number three spot. Bresnan after his all-round show should keep his place in the side that would mean tall Chris Tremlett will get more time to recuperate from the back spasm.

An Edgbaston wicket having some grass on it awaits the tourists that should make life difficult for them having looked all at sea against England’s pace battery. India having attained full strength in their batting will feel that their big guns can weather the storm and cling on to the crown for longer period.

With much deserved top ranking just a win away, England will be keen to bask into the supremacy at Edgbaston only.

England Squad : Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk),Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Steve Finn

India Squad : MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Gautam Gambhir (vc), Virendar Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Abhinav Mukund, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, R P Singh, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar